2021 Summer Fashion Trends You Need To Know Now

The sweet sound of freedom rings as promising as ever with summer right around the corner. After spending a full year in sustainable loungewear, it’s finally time to take your style game up a notch. And let us tell you, these 2021 summer fashion trends are exactly what you need to get excited about dressing up and going out again. From colors and prints to silhouettes and accessories, these are all the summer 2021 fashion trends you should have on your radar.

The 2021 Summer Fashion Trends You'll Love

Say Yes to Maximalism

The Roaring Twenties are back, and maximalism is leading the way. A juxtaposition of the laid-back loungewear fad of the previous year, the fashion trend of summer 2021 is all about the bold, bright, and beautiful. Look for volume, mixing prints, retro florals, and making a statement. 

Fun and funky S.F.-based Lisa Says Gah should be your one-stop shop for maximalist 2021 summer trends. With prints and colors all over, this super trendy website is where all your favorite influencers are shopping for unique pieces.

Crop your Tops

The crop top trend is nothing new, but it’s not going anywhere anytime soon either. The top du jour of summer 2021 trends is none other than the crop top. What we love most about the tiny top trend is how versatile it is. Put your own spin on the trend—dress it up or down to make it your own.

You’ve likely seen many bloggers on your feed tag Are You Am I in their posts for good reason. The versatile collection of tiny tops offered by this L.A.-based brand will give you easy breezy summer outfit ideas in 2021 that you’ll continue wearing for years to come.

Go for Wide Leg Pants

While tops are getting smaller and smaller, pants are definitely not following suit. Wearing skin-tight trousers just doesn’t feel right in 2021—maybe because we got used to wearing comfy clothes at home? We’ve seen an amalgamation of the comfiest silhouettes of the past decades in the trousers department with wide-leg pants, cropped culottes, and 80s office slacks.

Pair your crop tops with your favorite wide-legged pants and you’ll blend right in with the summer streetwear mavens in no time. Looking for high-quality California-made jeans to have as your go-to pair for years to come? Look no further than the sustainable, Los Angeles-based RE/DONE.

Hike up your Hemlines

Days are getting longer but skirts are definitely getting shorter according to the 2021 summer fashion trends. While midi and maxi skirts made a big comeback in the last couple of years, minis are also emerging as strong style contenders for this summer season. Coming in a range of silhouettes, fabrics, and prints, minis don’t fall short while making a fashion statement.

Reformation—an amazing eco-friendly brand—features the miniest of mini skirts in cute prints and simple cuts. Plus, they’re as sustainable as they come.

Think Transparent 

This 2021 summer fashion trend isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but for those who dare, it promises easy glamor in a show-stopping way. Primarily seen in maxi dresses and skin-tight tops, the sheer trend has also made its way in the accessories department. PVC is out of fashion in summer 2021, but netted bags and big bold sunnies with transparent glasses are all the rage this year.

Since sheer clothes are such eye-catching pieces, you’ll likely wear them once or twice at most. So, instead of splurging on a see-through, floor-length statement dress, get it for a steal from second-hand luxury stores like the S.F.-based The Real Real.

Cut it Out and Strap it up

Ever thought about showing off the area underneath your rib cage and just above your waist? Well, for some reason unbeknownst to us, designers have decided to highlight that part (and more) through imaginative cutouts in every shape and form. This summer 2021 fashion trend has made its way into gowns, slippery silks, and sheath dresses, giving peekaboo glimpses of skin through otherwise more conservative clothes.

The same applies to strappy details. These accents add dimension to the simplest clothes in the shape of crisscrossing cords and wraparound details that accentuate curves in the most understated way.

No one nails these two overlapping trends as well as the bi-coastal U.S. brand Eckhaus Latta. Seen on carpets, celebrities, and social media feeds all over the world, this uber-cool brand has somewhat become a trend in and of itself.

Puff Up Your Sleeves

Voluminous sleeves are nothing new, but they’re sticking around for another season and we’re definitely not complaining. This larger-than-life summer 2021 fashion trend is a detail that makes any shape more interesting. From one-shoulder tops to office-appropriate blouses, statement sleeves are a wardrobe staple.

For a dressed-up look that combines the sheer fabric trend with the puff sleeves, San Francisco-based Kamperett should be your sustainable brand of choice.

Suit Up for Summer

Suit up your already cool bikini with sarongs, shirts, hats, and more beachside items that perfectly match the print and color of your swimsuit. Super cute yet very easy to pull off, this summer trend will secure you a spot on every best-dressed list to any California beach you go to this season.

From halter dresses to matching shirts and short sets, trust Frankies Bikinis to give you the trendiest beachwear options in bold prints.

Reach for the Skies

We couldn’t forget about shoes to go along with your trendy summer outfits, and platforms are all the rage this summer season. Sneakers have been (and still continue to) dominate the footwear game for a couple of years already, but heels are finally making a comeback in everyday style. 

Platforms, retro prints, and dramatic shapes in 2021 fashion color trends are especially in, and no store has a better selection than Los Angeles-based Jeffrey Campbell. The brand has adopted this summer trend in the best way with a large selection of heeled shoes you won’t want to take off.

Go Bold with your Bling 

Last but not least, we have jewelry. With the ability to make or break any outfit, jewelry is your ticket to take an otherwise basic ensemble and make it IG-worthy. For summer 2021, jewelry trends are all about being bold and colorful in materials you probably donned as a pre-teen during the 90s. We’re talking plastic, clay, pearls, and glass beads for days.

Check out laCalifornienne for cool watches and straps in colors inspired by the Golden State skies. Rely on Beverly Hills-based The Last Line to provide you with nostalgic yet classic jewelry pieces you won’t be able to resist.